ECO DAY

Waitakere City Council and EcoMatters Environment Trust are pleased to announce EcoDay 2007, to be held on Sunday March 4 from 10am-4pm.

This ever popular, free community event, now in its 5th year, will be held in Olympic Park, New Lynn in close proximity to the Sustainable Living Centre and the Now Home.

Both Waitakere City Council and EcoMatters Environment Trust are committed to supporting our communities to take action to live more sustainably, and are looking forward to a future where our communities live within the ecological confines of the planet.

To that end the aim of EcoDay is to provide visitors with information about products and services which are available to enable them to live in a more environmentally sustainable way.  It’s about providing visitors with practical advice and information to enable them to bring the idea of sustainable living into the reality of their everyday lives.

For 2007, the theme of EcoDay will be ‘information + action = change’. 

Organic Market

As a key component of the Eco Day the events co ordinator is seeking interest from organic producers, suppliers wholesale and retail business to generate sufficient presence for an organic market. The purpose is to allow people to purchase organic products on the day and discover more about thier organic options and the people that supply organics in and around the Auckland area. If you are interested am Organic Market Stall Booking form is avaialbe below. Exhibitor booking forms are avaailable by contacting Emma as per contact details below.

Key Components of EcoDay 2007

• An exhibition hall and outdoor marquee with a range of exhibitors of products and services for sustainable living. Exhibitors will include a range of companies trading in sustainable products and services – everything from solar hot water systems, to rain water tanks to natural funerals. Government agencies and organisations will also have exhibits providing information and advice on environmental issues and services offered.
• A range of environmentally friendly transport options on display, including hybrid and fuel efficient cars, bicycles, scooters and more.
• A series of free seminars running throughout the day on a range of topics with a focus on sustainable building and the natural environment. Examples of topics from previous years include “Sustainable Building and Green Architecture”, “Selecting Cars on Fuel Economy”, and “Gardening with Nature”.
• Free bus tours running throughout the day to sustainable homes and housing developments around Waitakere City.  
• The Sustainable Living Centre will be open to the public for the day.  The Centre is located at the event site and is full of information for affordable solutions to sustainable living.  See www.ecomatters.org.nz – click on ‘sustainable living’.
• The Now Home will be open to the public for tours.  Also located on site, the Now Home was built by Beacon Pathway as part of a larger programme of research to act as a model of affordable, desirable, and environmentally sustainable homes for all New Zealanders. See www.nowhome.co.nz for further information.
• A ‘Kids Zone’ with stories, games and activities with an environmental focus.
• Food stalls selling organic food.
• An outdoor organic market.
• Free vehicle emissions testing.

Zero Waste
A key focus of EcoDay will be on Zero Waste practices in the city, and the event will have a Zero Waste policy. All waste created during the day will be recycled, including all food waste, and biodegradable plates, cups and cutlery, which will be composted on site at the Sustainable Living Centre. All stallholders will be required to use biodegradable products in their operations on the day. 

Guidelines for Market Stalls

• Any food sold on site should be organic, whenever possible, or at the least have a healthy food focus.
• Reusable or biodegradable food servers and cutlery must be used at all times.
• Food waste must be put into organic waste bins provided, for composting on-site.
• Biodegradable packaging must be used at all times when selling goods.
• High standards of hygene must be maintained at all times.
• The charge for market stalls is $50 plus GST (see attached booking form).
• Please contact the event co-ordinator at contact details below if you require any equipment to assist in your set up.
  

Contact Information

EcoMatters Environment Trust
PO Box 15 215
New Lynn
Waitakere City

Emma Giesen, Project Co-ordinator
Ph        (09) 817 1018
Fax        (09) 826 4278
Email        info@ecoday.org.nz
Web        www.ecomatters.org.nz